Loom having an automatic change of the weft cops



Dec. 23, 1952 K. SCHWABE 2,622,631

LOOM HAVING AN AUTOMATIC CHANGE OF THE WEF'T COPS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.7

39a, 25b 3 23 F IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 23, 1952 K. SCHWABE 2,622,631

LOOM HAVING AN AUTOMATIC CHANGE OF THE WEFT COPS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 51 5/15 5/ in; d.

- I VENTOR.

Dec. 23, 1952 SCHWABE 2,622,631

LOOM HAVING AN AUTOMATIC CHANGE OF THE WEFT COPS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3V/MIf/JINVENOR.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 DOOM HAVING AN AUTOMATIG CHANGE OF THE WEFT GOES Kurt Schwabe, Le Locie, Switzerland Application February 20, 1951, Serial No. 211,821 In Switzerland February 2.0, 1959 12 Claims. 1.

The present invention relates toa control devicefor' looms, having an automatic change of the weft copswith the use of'electriccontrol means, inwhich. at. least one control circuit is provided which. bridges, over an interrupter lying in, the circuit of the electric feeler-and selector device Of the loom preparing the exchange of the weft cop to be exchanged which interrupts the circuit ofsthefeelerand selector device, when the shuttle with the weft cop tobe exchanged has run into the shuttle box wherein the exchange of the weft copv is to be" effected, in, which control circuit switching'members arerprovided which are operated by control members, which survey the conformity of the kind ofthe: new weft cop put into readiness with the kind of the weft cop to be exchanged inthe shuttle, the correct position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, and the correct position ofthe new weftcop held. in readiness, and whichbring their holding members into closing position only when these. conditions which are indispensable for the faultless exchange of the weft cop are fulfilled, so that by-non-compliance with one ofthese conditions the. circuit remains interrupted, which has the. consequence that the cop exchange prepared does not take place.

In order that the invention may bebetter understood andreadilycarried into effect some embodiments thereof will now be-described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic general arrangement of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic general arrangement of another embodiment;

Figs. 3 and 4 show details of a third embodiment in elevation.

The embodiments illustrated relate to looms of a kind in which the weft cop is tested by a feeler on the one side of the loom, and is exchanged on the other side in the extreme forward position of the slay. Moreover they are assumed to be looms with one-sided exchange of shuttles in which the shuttle has to pass through a shed twice in succession. The present invention can, however, if appropriately developed, be applied to looms with double-sided independent exchange of shuttles as well as to those in which the exchange of cops is effected in another position of the slay, e. g. in the lowest position of? the slay. An illustration of such embodiments; of: the invention has been dispensed with, since the invention remains u anti l t e same. nd: h n n or the understanding of the invention would emerge therefrom.

In. the embodiment according to Fi g, l the inpart of the present invention, and in its place could, appropriately fitted-in, a colour; selector and weft surveying device of anyother design be used at will, For the better understanding,

however, the colour selector, and weft surveyingdevice illustrated and its operation will be briefly described too.

In Fig. 1 the reference i denotes the slay of the loom, 2 the shuttla in which the empty weft cop 3 to be exchanged is contained,and 4 a pusher member fixed to the slay, which latter cooperates with a two-armed hammer lever 5, when a weft copis to be exchanged. Thishammer lever 5 is articulated by means of a pin 8 to one leg ofa two-armed frog B which is tiltably pivoted on a pin 5- arranged stationarily in the frame of the loom. On an axle 9 arranged stationarily in the frame of the loom a two-armed control lever Iii is pivoted for rotation, one arm of which acts on one leg of the hammer lever 5, and the other arm of which is acted upon by arelay l l.

The feeler device which is arranged for example on the left hand side of the loom, is constructed accordingto Fig. l as described: hereinafter:

On theshuttl e box ii; a series of brushes [3 is provided which bear resiliently againstcontact plates 54 arranged on the shuttles 2 which brushes are inelectrically conductive connection with the clamp I 5;for the weftcop 3 in the shuttle 2 and accordingly with, the clamp rings [6 of the weft cop 3; and with ametal sleeve ll arranged on the latter. The shuttlev 2; is providedwith a weft cop feeler it which during the presence of the shuttle 2 in the shuttle box l2 bears. against a metal plate I?) which is electrically insulated from and attached tothe shuttle box l2 and which establishes an electrical-connection of the metal plate Hi to the earth, via the metal sleeve IT, the contact plate It; and the' brush it. when the weft cop 3 has been exhausted. Foreach cellof the shuttle box l2 such a metal plate 5; is provided, each ofwhich is in, electrically conductive connection with a slide rail 21!]; On the box guide. a brush 2;l is provided. which contacts the slide rail 2!] which is associated with that cell of; the shuttle box ['2 which is on the.

level of the slay beam, and which is in electricall-y Cami-nativ 2 1369 10 ne rm n l'o the re a s hsrte m ea f wh h, is connectedto theconductor R of a mains R. S T. The relay H is provided with a holding contact ll'i The electric colour 1 With 22 the cop magazine is denoted which is rotatably journalled on an axle 23 on the frame of the loom, and which comprises two compartments 22a and 2222 which are separated by a partition wall 22' and which are intended for receiving weft cops 3 of two different colours. On the circumference of the cop magazine 22 a cam 24 is arranged which can move between two abutments 25a and 25b, stationarily arranged on the frame of the loom and provided with adjustment screws. By these abutments 2 a and 2% the possible rotational movement of the cop magazine 22 on the axle 23 is limited, and a spring acts on the cop magazine 22 in such a sense, that the cam 24 of the latter is pressed against the abutment 2511. In accordance with the weft cops 3 of the two colours there are also two groups of shuttles 2, the shuttles 2 of one group being provided with metal plates 2'! in electrically conductive connection with the weft cop feeler I8, Whereas with the other shuttles 2 these metal plates are missing. On the shuttle box I2 a resilient brush 28 is arranged, electrically insulated, for each cell of the shuttle box which can contact the metal plate 21 of a shuttle 2 which has run into this cell of the shuttle box. These brushes 28 are each in electrically conductive connection with one slide rail 29. With these slide rails 29 a brush 3U cooperates which is in electrically conductive connection with one terminal of a relay 3|, the other terminal of which is connected to the conductor R of the mains R. S. T.

For moving the cop magazine 22 against the action of the spring 26 an electric motor 32, connected to the mains R. S. T., is provided the shaft of which carries a gear pinion 33 which is in mesh with a toothed segment 34 arranged on the cop magazine 22. In the circuit of the electric motor 32 there is arranged a bi-polar switch 35 operated by the relay 3| which is provided with a holding contact 3|.

The control device forming a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged on the shuttle box (not illustrated in the drawing) on that side of the loom where the exchange of cops takes place, comprises three resilient contact pins 36, 31a and 31b. The contact pin 36 is in electrically conductive comiection with the earth. The contact pins 31a and 31b are each connected with a contact spring 38a and 38b respectively, which cooperate with contact pieces 39a and 39b, respectively, which are connected to the conductor T of the mains R. S. T. Between the contact springs 38a and 38b lies a control cam 40 of electrically insulating material which is arranged on the cop magazine. The arrangement is made in such a manner that in one end position of the cop magazine 22, i. e. when the cam 24 abuts on the abutment 25a, the control cam 40 presses the contact spring 3811 against the contact piece 39a, and in the other end position of the cop magazine 22, i. e. when the cam 24 abuts against the abutment 25b, it presses the contact spring 381) against the contact piece 39b. With the contact pins 36, 31a and. 31b cooperate two small metal plates which are arranged on each shuttle and which are in electrically conductive connection with one another; to wit, those shuttles 2, which have a metal plate 21, are provided with small metal plates 4| and 42a, and those which have no metal plate 21, are provided with small metal plates 4| and 42b, the distance of the small metal plate 42a from the small metal plate 4| corresponding to the distance of the axes of the contact pins 33 and 31a, and the distance of the small metal plate- 42b from the small metal plate 4| corresponding to the distance of the axes of the contact pins 35 and 37b.

With 43 the drum of an interruptor is denoted which consists of electrically insulating material and carries on its circumference a contact strip 44, the said drum being arranged on a shaft which rotates at the same R. P. M. as the crankshaft of the loom. On the periphery of this drum 43 bear two contact springs a and 45?), one of which, 45a, is in electrically conductive connection with the earth, and the other, 451), with the conductor T of the mains R. S. T.

When a shuttle 2 with an exhausted weft cop 3, which is to be exchanged, runs into the shuttle box i2, the following circuit is closed, since the interruptor is so adjusted that at this moment its contact springs 45a and 45b bear on the contact strip 44 of its drum 43:

Earthcontact spring 45a-contact strip 4 contact spring fill-conductor Tconductor RP- relay |-brush 2 I-slide rail 20metal plate |9--weft cop feeler |8metal sleeve ||-contact plate |4brush |3earth.

Thereby the relay is energized and responds, whereby it rocks the control lever If! so that the latter moves the hammer lever 5 into such a position that one leg thereof gets into the path of the pusher member 4 of the slay Owing to the holding contact the relay remains energized when the shuttle 2 leaves the shuttle box l2.

When the shuttle 2 containing the weft cop 3 to be exchanged has a metal plate 2?, moreover the following circuit is closed:

Earth-brush |3contact plate i-metal sleeve ||--weft cop feeler |8metal plate 21- brush 28--slide rail 29-brush 33- relay 3|- conductor R, which has the efiect that the relay 3| is energized and closes the switch 35. Thereby the electric motor 32 is switched on, and the latter turns now the cop magazine 22 via the gear pinion 33 and the toothed segment 34-. This cop magazine 22, which hitherto under the action of the spring 26 had been in a position in which the cam 24 bore on the abutment 25a so that the pusher end of the frog 6 lay above the weft cop to be pushed-in of the compartment 22a of the cop magazine 22, which abutted on the partition wall 22', is thereby turned into its other end position, in which the cam 24 bears on the abutment 251), so that the pusher end of the frog 6 now lies above the weft cop to be pushed-in of the compartment 22b of the cop magazine 22, which abuts on the partition wall 22. Owing to the holding contact 3| of the relay 3| the latter remains energized even when the shuttle 2 leaves the shuttle box |2, and the switch 35 accordingly remains closed. When the shuttle 2 containing the weft cop 3 to be exchanged has no metal plate 21, the relay 3| does not respond, the switch 35 is not closed, and accordingly the cop magazine 22 remains in its position.

When the shuttle 2, the weft cop 3 of which is to be exchanged, has run into theshuttlc box on the side of the loom opposite to the one where the exchange of the weft cop is to take place, the control device described comes into action. This control device has the object oi preventing the exchange of the weft cop initiated by the weft surveying device, when the cop magazine 22 is not adjusted in accordance with the shuttle 2 which has run into the shuttle box, so that consequently a weft cop 3 from the mag azine 22 which does not correspond to the colour 7 cessity of the exchange of the weft cop of a shuttle has been ascertained by the feeler device, and the conformity of the respective shuttle with the group 52a, 52b, 52c and 52d, respectively, has been ascertained by the selector device, the obturator flaps Ha, 11b, He or 11d of that compartment la, 5lb, 5lc or 5|d, respectively, which contains weft cops 58a, b, 580 or 58d, respectively, of the corresponding colour, is opened for a short time, in such a manner that a weft cop 50a, 50b, 500 or 50d can drop into the guide hopper 51' of the cop magazine 5| arranged below the compartments 5m, 5"), 5|c and 51d. When the respective obturator flap Ha, "b, He or lid, is opened, the associated control lever 19a, 13b,

l3c or 131i is rocked by the connecting rod 16a,

16b, lie or 16d, respectively, which is articulated to it, in such a manner, that by one of its arms the associated contact spring 18a, 19b, or 18d is brought into contact with the associated stationary contact piece Ha, 'Hb, He or Md. The third arm of the control levers 13a, 13b, 16c and 1311 is constructed as a stepped lever each of which cooperates with a two-armed locking pawl 78a, 18b, 180 or 78d, respectively, which are arranged behind one another on an axle which is stationarily arranged on the frame of the loom. One leg of these locking pawls 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d is connected to the stepped lever arm of the control lever 13a, 13b, 13c and 1301, respectively, by a tension spring 88a, 88b, 88c and 88d, respectively, which tends to bring the other leg of this locking pawl 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d, respectively, into engagement with the corresponding stepped lever arm. This ha the consequence, that when by the temporary opening of one of the obturator flaps 71a, 'I'lbQHc or 'Ild one of the control levers 13a, 13b, l3c'or 1341 is turned, one leg of the respective locking pawl 18a, 18b, 180 or 1811 engages into the stepped lever arm of this control lever 13a, 13b, or 7311, and retains the same in this position deflected from the rest position. Owing to the slot 15a, 15b, or 15d, respectively, of the corresponding connecting rod 16a, 16b, or 16d, respectively,

the obturator flap 11a, 11b, 110 or 11d concerned can nevertheless return at once into its closed position.

One leg of the locking pawls 18a, 18b, or

18d is acted upon by one leg of a two armed release lever 8|, which is pivoted on an axle 82 stationarily arranged on the frameof the loom. On the end of the other leg of the release lever 8| a pin 83 is arranged, which engages into an eye 84 of a connecting rod 85. At the upper end of this connecting rod 85 a second eye 86 is provided, in which lies a pin 81, which is arranged on a lever 88. The lever 88 is rotatably pivoted on an axle 89 on the guide hopper 5| of the cop magazine 5|, and rigidly connected to it is a holder flap 99 arranged at the orifice of the guide hopper 5|, which flap holds a weft cop 50a, 50b, 500 or 59d, which has dropped into the guide hopper, in a position of readiness for being pushed into the shuttle 52a, 52b, 520 or 5201.

The lower end of the connecting rod 85 is articulated to the end of one leg of a bell crank lever 9| which is rotatably pivoted on an axle 92 which is stationarily arranged on the frame of the loom. On the end of the other leg of this bell crank lever 9| a roller 93 is arranged, which runs on a cam disc 94. This cam disc 94 is arranged on a shaft 95 journalled in the frame of the loom which runs with half the R. P. M.

of the crank shaft of the loom. With the stationary contact pieces Ha, Hb, He and "lid a contact piece 96 is in electrically conductive connection, which is arranged on a carrier plate 91 of electrically insulating material provided on the guide hopper 5| of the cop magazine 5|. On this carrier plate 91 there is moreover arranged an electrically conductive bracket 98 which carries an axle 99 on which a flap I 00 is rotatably journalled opposite the orifice of the guide hopper 5|. This flap I90 is held by a spring l8l in such a position, that its portion lying above the axle 99 abuts against the carrier plate 91, and its portion lying below the axle 99 adjusts itself so that it carries together with the holder flap 9!! a weft cop 50a, 58b, 500 or 58d which is in a position of readiness for being pushed-in.

On this flap I90 a two-armed feeler lever I02 is pivoted, which is in electrically conductive connection with the bracket 98. One leg of this feeler lever I82 is intended to test the position of the weft cop 50a, 50b, 50c or 50d which is in readiness for being pushed-in, and when the latter is in a correct position, it moves the said feeler lever I02 into such a position that its other leg comes into contact with the contact piece 96 and electrically connects the same to the bracket 98. The bracket 98 is connected to the conductor T between the source of current R-T and the interruptor 65.

When a shuttle 52a, 52b, 520 or 52d runs into the shuttle box on that side of the loom, on which the feeler and selector device 55 is arranged, it is ascertained by the feeler device whether its weft cop has been exhausted and has to be exchanged. If this is the case, the feeler device closes the circuit of the relay 64 and, since at this moment the interruptor 65, too, closes this circuit, the relay 64 responds, and the hammer lever 58 is brought through the control lever 63 into a position of readiness, i. e. into a position in which one of its legs lies in the path of the pusher member of the slay 56; at the same time it has been ascertained by the selector device, whether the shuttle, that as arrived, belongs to the group 52a, 52b, 52c or 52d, and accordingly one of the obturator flaps 11a, 17b, He, or 11d is temporarily opened, so that, in accordance with the weft cop tested in the shuttle, a weft cop 59a, 50b, 590, or 50d drops into the guide hopper 5| of the cop magazine, and gets into a position of readiness for being pushedin into the shuttle. Owing to the holding contact 61, the relay 64 remains in this position, even when the shuttle leaves the shuttle box. In Fig. 2 the device is illustrated in the position immediately before the pushing-in of a new weft cop 50a, 1. e. the feeler and selector device 55 has already functioned, and the new weft cop 58a is in a position of readiness.

The pusher member 51 of the slay 56 is already in engagement with the hammer lever 58, and upon further movement of the slay 56, the frog 59 comes into operation and pushes the new weft cop 50a, which is in a position of readiness in the guide hopper 5|, into the shuttle 52a. By the previous temporary opening of the obturator flap Ila, before the shuttle 52a has left the shuttle box on the side of the feeler-and selector device, the control lever 13a has been turned by means of the connecting rod 16a, and this control lever 13a is now retained by the locking pawl 18a. Thereby the contact spring 10a is pressed against the stationary contact aeea asi 9 piece I I a. By the weft cop 50awhich is in'aposition of readiness, provided it is in the correct position, the feeler lever I02 is pushed'into such a position, that it connects the bracket 98 in an electrically conductive way to the contact piece 96.

When now the shuttle 5211. has entered the shuttle box on the exchange side, the contact pins 68a, 69a, 69b, 69c and 69d come into operation, i. e. they resiliently grip the incoming shuttle 52a. Since now the interrupter 65 interrupts the circuit at this moment, the following circuit is closed:

Conductor R-relay 64-ear thearthed contact pin Gil-contact pin tea-contact spri'ng "Illa-contact piece Tlc-'contact pieceetfeeler lever lll2-bracket '98-cbnductor T.

The opened interruptor-t5 is thereby shunted, and the relay '64 remains energized and holds the hammer lever 58 in a position "of readiness. This circuit is not closed, when the selected new weft cop was "taken from the'co'rrect-compartment Sla-ofth'e cbp maga'z'i ne 51, i. 'e. when it is the case of a new weft cop 50a. corresponding to the exhausted'wef-t cbp 5'fla of the shuttle 52a. If the weft 'cop were taken from another compartment of the '"cop ma azine, one :of the control levers 13b, 130 or 13d' would have been turned by the opening of the obturator flap 171),

He or 11d, and thereby one of the-contact springs Mb, 180 or d would-have been pressed against the respective-contact piec'e -l lb, H'c or 1121. However, since the incoming fs'huttle belongs to the group 520. and comprised merel the contact plates 53 and 54a, closing of the circuit could not have been effected.

Likewise, the closing of the circuit does not take place when "the incomin'g'shu'ttle 52a with the cop 50a to be exchanged is not in the correct positi'onin the shuttle her; i. e. when it has not completely' rumin, sinoe in this ease-an electrical' connection between the contact pins 68 and 69a over the contact plates 53 an'd5da of the shuttle 52a would not have been established either. By an a propriate selection of the width of the contact plates 53, 54a, 54ba'nd 54d as well as of the contact pins 68, 69a, 69b, '69c and 69d the range of the positioned the shuttle can be determined within which an exchange of the weft cop should take place.

Closing of the circuit referred to does not take place either, when 'n'o new'weft cop is in a position of readiness or when this new weft cop lies obliquely or oiT-set in the guide hopper 51', since in this case theieele'r lever H12 is not in contact with the 'contact piece 9'6.

When closing of the circuit referred to does not take place the relay 64 is disenergized, since its circuit is interrupted by the interrupter 65, and it drops off. Thereby the control lever 63 releases the hammer lever 58, and the latter turns under the action or its weight into a position in which its -leg co'r'ne's outof range of the pusher member 5'! of the slew 56,"so that operation of the frog 59 d'oesnot take place. This happens of course before the slay 56 has reached the position represented in the drawing.

When the new weft cop is pushed-in by means of the frog '59, the holder flap 90 is pushedb'a-ck whereby the roller 93 is lifted off the cam disc '94, and the flap 10!], too, is'pressedback against the action of the spring PM. When a cop exchange initiated has "been-prevented owing to a wrong selection of the new 'weit cop 50a, 501), 502; or 56:1,150 a wrong position tithe shuttle 52a, 52b,

520 or 52d in the shuttle box, or to a wrong position of the new weft cop 58a, 58b, 500 or 53d in the guide hopper 5|, the new weft cop 56a, b, 500 or 553111, which is in a position of readiness, has got to be removed from the guide hopper 5|. This is effected thereby that the holder flap 90 is temporarily moved back via the connecting rod 85 by the bell crank lever 9i, the roller 93 of which runs on the cam M, at every second pick of the loom so that the weft cop, which is in a position of readiness, can drop out. The cam disc 3 is so constructedand-adjusted, that this movin; back of the holder flap '98 takes place immediately after the shuttle 52a, 52b, 520 or 5201, the weft cop $11,591), title or 533d of which should have been exchanged, has left again the exchange box. Upon arrival of this shuttle 52a, 522x520 or SM in the opposite shuttle box the holder 'iiap has already been moved forward again.

The embodiment of the invention diagrammatically illustrated in Figsy3 and 4 is intended fora l-ooin which loper a'tes with weft-cops of two different colours. On the train-e of the loom (not shown in the drawing) a toothed rack M35 is 'shiftably guided. This toothed rack Hi5 is in its middle position during the normal operation of the loom, i. c. When no exchange of cops takes place, and it can be shifted to one side or to the other by the feeler and colour selector device through an electric motor which can bere'versed or through two electromagnets, according to whether a cop of one colour or of the other is to be exchanged. With l'ilfi'a and Hiiib two shafts are denoted on each of which one of the obturator flaps (not shown in the drawing) of the two compartments of the 'cop'magazine (likewise not shown in the drawing) 'isarranged. On the two shafts I tea and [96b a gear wheel mm and 101b,

respectively, is arranged idly rotatable, with which a second toothed rack IE8 is in mesh. The gear wheel Illla is moreover in mesh with the toothed rack I05. On the shafts mesa and I061) a can disc 109a and [0912, respectively is fixedly keyed. These cam discs 199a and 9% carry at one side a dog Ilfia, Hiib, respectively, which lie in recesses on the rim of the gear wheels mm and it'll), respectively. When the toothed rack N35 is in the middle position, the dog llOa abuts on a limiting flank of the recess of the gear wheel Hill) in such a manner that upon movement of the toothed rack I in one direction the dog I Hm is carried along by the gear wheel 107a whereby the cam disc lGEia with the shaft [06a is turned whereas the dog 1 lb is n'otcarried along because of the'recess of the gear wheel Hill), and the shaft [96b is accordingly not turned, and conversely upon movement of the toothed rack 1'05 in'the opposite direction the dog H0?) is carried along by the gear wheel lfi'lb, whereby the cam disc N39?) with its shaft web is turned, while the shaft l-tfia is not turned.

The cam discs [09a and Hitb have on their periphery a cam projection [9901, and i691), respetively, which cooperates with a roller Ilia and l 1 lb, respectively, which is journalled at the end of one leg of a bell crank lever [2d, 21), respectively. The bell crank levers HZa and 1 I222 are rotatably pivoted on a common axle I I3 which is stati'ona'rily arranged on the frame of the loom. To'the end of the other legs of the two bell crank levers l 1211 and I i222 one-end of a connecting rod Ilia, use, respectively, is articulated, the other end of which is articulated to one end of a twoarmed stepped lever 11 5a, H51), respectively. The stepped levers 5c and H51) are rotatably journalled on a common axle III; which is stationarily arranged on the frame of the 100m. On the other ends of the stepped levers H511 and i I51) a step I I'm and I I'Ib, respectively, is provided for one leg of a two-armed locking pawl I I8a and I I01 respectively, which are rotatably journalled on a common axle II8 which is stationarily arranged on the frame of the loom. The stepped levers H511 and H51) are connected, to the associated locking pawl II8a, II8b, respectively, by a tension spring IISa, H91), respectively, and a common abutment pin I20, stationarily arranged on the frame of the 100m, delimits the angular deflection, which these locking pawls I Ia and I I81) can perform when the associated stepped lever I Ida or I I51) is rocked in such a manner that the leg of the locking pawl II8a, H81), respectively, which lies below the step Illa, II'I1), respectively, can move above this step II'Ia, II'I1).

For each kind of weft cops, a control circuit is provided, the control of the weft cop being eifected, if desired, in the same or a similar manner, as described and illustrated with reference to the embodiments described hereinabove. Only when one of these control circuits is closed, an exchange of cops can take place. In each of these control circuits an electrical switch is arranged, which consists in two switch pawls I2 Ia, I2Ib, respectively, and I22a, I221), respectively, which are tiltably pivoted on contact pieces I23a, I 24a and I23b, I241), respectively. The angular deflection of the switch pawls I2Ia and I2I1) is limited by an abutment pin I25. The switch pawls [22a and I22b are pressed by a spring I20a,

I261), respectively, against the associated stepped lever IISa, H51), on Which they abut by means of a roller I2Ia, I211), respectively, journalled on them. With I28 the frog of the cop changing device of the loom is denoted, which is journalled on an axle I29. This frog I28 has a projection I30 to which a pin I3I is attached for the release of the locking pawls H811 and H01). The connecting rods HM and H41), the stepped levers H501 and H51), the locking pawls Ba and H81), the tension springs Him and H01), the switch pawls I2Ia and I2I1) as well as I221: and I221), the contact pieces I23a and I231) as well as I241) and I241) and their rollers I210 and I211) are arranged behind one another, so that they cover one another in the drawing.

In the drawing the control device is represented in that position which it assumes when no exchange of cops is to take place. The toothed rack I05 is in its middle position, and the cams IOSa' and I091) do not influence the rollers IIIa and EI lb of the bell crank levers H211 and H21). The legs of the locking pawls Ba and H81) lie below the steps I Ila and I I11) of the stepped levers I I51) and I I51), and the switch pawls I22a and I221) are lifted off the switch pawls I2 Ia and I2 I1), so that consequently both control circuits are interrupted. When now an exchange of cops is initiated by the feeler and selector device of the loom, the toothed rack I05 is shifted by means of a reversible electric motor or of one of two electromagnets to one side or to the other, according to whether a cop of one kind or of the other is selected, and is immediately returned. When the toothed rack I05 is shifted, in the case represented e. g. downward, the gear wheel I0la carries the dog I Ilia along, and with it the cam disc I09a. Thereby the shaft I06a is rotated, and the obturator flap arranged on it opens temporarily its compartment of the cop magazine, so that a weft cop can drop out of this compartment into a position of readiness, as described e. g. with reference to Fig. 2. The gear wheel I011) is also rotated by the toothed rack I08, but does not carry the dog II01) along, which then moves relative to it in the recess of the gear wheel I011), so that accordingly the shaft I061) is not turned, and the obturator flap of the other compartment is not opened.

Upon rotation of the shaft I06a the cam I09a' acts on the roller Illa of the bell crank lever H211 and rocks the latter about its axle II3. Through the connecting rod II Ia, the stepped lever II5a is rocked about its axle IIB in such a manner that the leg of locking pawl I I8a emerges from the step II'Ia and is rocked upwards by the tension spring H911, and abuts against the abutment pin I20. Thereby the end of this leg of the locking pawl II8a comes to bear against the stepped lever I I5a above the step Illa-and holds the same in this position, even when the cam I09a' of the cam disc I09a withdraws from the roller IIIa when turning back.

By the rocking of the stepped lever II5a the switch pawl I22a has been pressed on to the switch pawl I2 Ia against the action of the spring I26a, so that this switch is closed. When new by a feeler device, such as described e. g. with reference to the foregoing embodiments, the conformity of the weft cop of the shuttle arrived in the exchange box with the new weft cop brought into a position of readiness has been ascertained, and when by this feeler device the control circuit containing the switch pawls I2Ia and I220. has been closed, there is nothing to oppose the exchange of the exhausted weft cop; otherwise the control circuit remains interrupted with the consequence that the frog I28 can not be set into motion so that the exchange of the weft cop does not take place. When the exchange of a weft cop has been initiated by the feeler and. selector device, the toothed rack I05 is shifted in the opposite direction, i. e. upwards, and is returned again. This has the effect that the gear wheel I0'Ia is rotated without carrying along the dog I I 0a of the cam disc I09a while the gear wheel I011) carries the dog IIOb along and turns the cam disc I091) with the shaft I06b, so that the obturator flap arranged on this shaft I06b temporarily opens its compartment of the cop magazine, and a weft cop of the other kind can drop into a position of readiness. At the same time the switch comprising the switch pawls I2Ib and I221) is closed in the manner described hereinabove.

In the pushing-in movement of the frog, the pin I3I arranged on its projection I30 abuts against the lower leg of the locking pawl 811 or I I81), which has rocked, and restores the locking pawl concerned to its initial position. Under the action of the tension spring IISa or'II91), the respective stepped lever N51) or H51) returns also into its initial position and allows also the switch pawl [2211 or I22b to return again to their initial position, so that the control circuit concerned is again interrupted.

The control device according to Figs. 3 and 4 is suited particularly for looms, in which the movement of the frog is not derived from the movement of the slay but is generated in any other way.

When the condition is made that the cop exchange has to take place in one exactly defined position of the slay only, a further switch or interruptor can be provided in the control circuit which is closed mechanically or electrically in one predetermined position of the slay'only. For

this purpose e. g. an interruptorjhavin'g a-rotating drum can be used, similarto the one described inthe preceding embodiments.

When the further condition "is made, that the exchange of cops should not take place, when cop magazine.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to 'belimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cops, an interrupter operated by'the said feeler and selector device, a preparatorycircuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter when the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cops takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, switch members arranged in the said control circuits, holder members for the new weft cop prepared by the said preparatory circuit for being substituted for an old cop, the said holder means being controlled by the said control circuits, first control members ascertaining the conformity of the kind of the new weft cop with the old cop, second control members ascertaining the correct position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, and third control members ascertaining the correct position of the new weft cop for being exchanged, the said first, second and third control members operating the said switch members only when the said conformity of the cops correct position of the shuttle and correct position of the cop are established.

2. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cops, an interrupter operated by the said feeler and selector device, a preparatory circuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter when the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cops takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, switch members arranged in the said control circuits, holder members for the new weft cop prepared by the said preparatory circuit for being substituted for an old cop, the said holder means being controlled by the said control circuits, different kind of shuttles for each kind of 'Weft'thread, two electrically connected contact plates oneach shuttle arranged in different positions on the different kinds of shuttlesgelectric'al contact pins arranged in the shuttle box wherein the exchangeof cops takes place, one of the said contact pins being connected to one phase of the mains and'each of the other contact pins being connected through one of the said control circuits to other phases of the mains, whereby the said control 14 circuits are closed according to thekind' of shuttle in the correct position of the same only.

3. A control device as claimed in claim 2, comprising in addition: a switch member arranged in each of the said control circuits controlled by the new cop selected by the 'said'select'or device in the position of readiness for being substituted, and control means ascertaining theconforini'ty of the new cop selected with the old one, the said control means allowing the closing "of the said switch member only when the said conformity is established. I

4. A control device as claimed in claim 2, comprising in addition: a rotatable cop magazine having two compartments for diiferent kinds of weft cops, stationary abutments delimiting end positions for the said cop magazine,'each en position corresponding to the discharge of one kind of cops from the said magazine, a cam member arranged on the said cop magazine, two switch members closed by the 'said cam member each of the said switch members being arranged in the control circuit corresponding to the kind of shuttles associated with the kind of weft cops to be discharged from the said magazine.

5. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cops, an interrupter operated by the said feeler and selector device, a preparatory circuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter when the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cop's takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, a cop magazine having different compartments for each kind of weft cops, flaps controlled by the said feeler and selector device, each flap controlling the discharge of cops from one of the compartments of the said cop magazine, spring biassed stepped levers each operatively connected to one of the said flaps, spring biassed locking pawls each associated with one of the said stepped levers, and electrical switches each associated with one of the said stepped levers and arranged in one of the said control circuits, each of the said flaps when temporarily opening its compart'mentof the" said cop magazine turning its associated stepped lever into a position wherein it closes its associated switch, and the associated locking pawl dropping under its spring bias into the said "stepped lever and locking the same in the deflected position.

6. A control device as claimed in claim 5, Comprising in addition: a shaft rotated in operation at half the number of revolutions of the main crank shaft of the loom, a cam arranged on said shaft, a cam follower engaging said cam, a

- common holder member for weft cops discharged from any one of the compartments of the said cop magazine preparatory to being inserted into a shuttle operatively connected to the said cam fo1lower,'a common release lever for all the said locking pawls operatively'connected to the said cam follower, the said cam automatically releasing the discharge of a cop from the said holder member by temporarily opening the said holder member and releasing the said stepped levers from being locked by the said locking pawls every second revolution of the main crankshaft of the loom.

7. A control device as claimed 'in claim 6 wherein the releasing action of the said cam is synchronised with the moment when the'shiittle leaves the shuttle box in which the exchange of the cops takes place.

8. A control device as claimed in claim 6 comprising in addition: a spring biassed feeler lever pivotally arranged opposite the said holder member in operative contact with the new weft cop, a common switch member controlling all of the said control circuits operated by the said feeler lever, the said feeler lever closing the said common switch member only when the new weft cop contacted by it is in the correct position preparatory to being inserted into a shuttle.

9. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cop, an interrupter operated by the said feeler and selector device, a preparatory circuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter when the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cops takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, switch members arranged in the said control circuits, holder members for the new weft cop prepared by the said preparatory circuit for being substituted for an old cop, the said holder means being controlled by the said control circuits, a cop magazine having an even number of compartments each for a different kind of weft cops, a pair of flaps operated by the said feeler and selector device and controlling the discharge of cops from a pair of compartments of the said cop magazine, a pair of parallel shafts each shaft fixedly connected to one of the said flaps, a cam disc fixedly arranged on each of the said shafts, a dog attached to each cam disc, a gear pinion freely rotatable on each of said shafts having a recess engaging the said dog with angular play, a first toothed rackshiftably arranged on the loom controlled by the said feeler and selector device and having a middle position prior to the initiation of an exchange of cops and two end positions each corresponding to the initiation of the discharge of a cop from one compartment of the said cop magazine, the said toothed rack meshing with one of the said gear pinions, a second toothed rack meshing with both the said gear pinions and coupling the same for rotation, one dog being carried along by the flank of the recess of its associated gear pinion when the same is rotated in one direction by the shifting of the said first toothed rack and the other being left stationary by the said angular play in the recess of its associated gear pinion, the action being reversed upon shifting the said first toothed rack in the opposite direction, a pair of cam follower mechanisms each cooperating with one of the said cam discs, a pair of stepped levers each operatively connected with one of the said cam follower mechanisms, a pair of switch members each arranged in that one of the said control circuits which is associated with the kind of cops of the compartment of the cop magazine concerned controlled by the said stepped lever, and a pair of spring biassed locking pawls'each looking one of the said stepped levers in its deflected position in which it closes its associated switch member.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 comprising in addition: a frog, a release member arranged on the said frog in operative relation to the said locking pawls and releasing the said locking pawls from their position locking their associated st pped lever upon the said frog pushing a cop into a shuttle.

11. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cops, an interrupter operated by the said feeler and selector device, a preparatory circuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter When the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cops takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, switch members arranged in the said control circuits, holder members for the new weft cop prepared by the said preparatory circuit for being substituted for an old cop, the said holder means being controlled by the said control circuits, first control members ascertaining the conformity of the kind of the new weft cop with the old cop, second control members ascertaining the correct position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, and third control members ascertaining the correct position of the new weft cop for being exchanged, the said first, second and third control members operating the said switch members only when the said conformity of the cops, correct position of the shuttle and correct position of the cop are established, and a switch arranged in each control circuit closed in dependence of the movement of the slay of the loom in a predetermined position of the said slay only.

12. A control device for the automatic exchange motion of the weft of looms, comprising in combination: an electric feeler and selector device for the weft cops, an interrupter operated by the said feeler and selector device, a preparatory circuit preparing the exchange of a weft cop interrupted by the said interrupter when the shuttle with the weft cop to be exchanged enters the shuttle box wherein the exchange of weft cops takes place, control circuits shunting the said preparatory circuit, switch members arranged in the said control circuits, holder members for the new weft cop prepared by the said preparatory circuit for being substituted for an old cop, the said holder means being controlled by the said control circuits, first control members ascertaining the conformity of the kind of the new weft cop with the old cop, second control members ascertaining the correct position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, and third control members ascertaining the correct position of the new weft cop for being exchanged, the said first, second and third control members operating the said switch members only when the said conformity of the cops correct position of the shuttle and correct position of the cop are established, a weft surveying device, and a switch arranged in each control circuit controlled by the said weft surveying device interrupting the said control cir cuits when the weft thread is broken or exhausted immediately prior to the exchange of a cop whereby this exchange does not take place.

KURT SCHWABE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,323,279 Kuile July 18, 1922 1,573,942 Hollins Feb. 23, 1926 2,111,525 Bird et a1 Mar. 15, 1938 2,245,445 Schwabe June 10, 1941 2,418,324 Stuer Apr. 1, 1947 

